Joseph A. Wagner, born on March 1, 1855, in Bohemia, served as the treasurer of Bon Homme County, South Dakota. Emigrating to the United States at fifteen, Wagner initially settled in Wisconsin before moving to Bon Homme County. He began as a farm laborer, eventually acquiring and cultivating his own land. In 1887, he transitioned to the general merchandise business in Tabor and later entered banking, becoming president of the Utica and Tabor State Banks, and vice-president of the Lesterville State Bank. Wagner, a Democrat, was elected County treasurer in 1902. He was married to Rosa Bumba, with three surviving children, Joseph J., James A., and Thomas J.
Joseph A. Wagner, who is incumbent of the office of treasurer of Bon Homme County, retaining his residence in the attractive village of Tabor, the County seat, is one of the popular and highly esteemed citizens of the County and one of the representative business men of this section of the state, being largely interested in banking and having attained prosperity and definite prestige through his own efforts, being thus entitled to be termed a self-made man, which is ever a title of honor in our republic.
Mr. Wagner is a native of Bohemia, where he was born on the 1st of March, 1855, the family having been resident of that section of the German empire for many generations. He was there reared to the age of fifteen years, having received his educational training in the excellent schools of the locality in which he was born. At the age noted he bade adieu to home and native land, in company with his elder brother, Albert, and set sail for the United States. From New York City, they proceeded westward to Wisconsin, and after passing about ten months in Kewaunee County, that state, they came to what is now South Dakota, this being prior to the division of the territory. Our subject located in Bon Homme County, where he secured employment on various farms, being thus engaged for several years, during which time he carefully saved his earnings. In 1876 he took up a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres and later filed a homestead entry on the same property, which was located about twelve miles from the present County seat of Bon Homme County. He located on his farm and vigorously instituted the work of cultivating and improving the same. He resided on this place until 1887, when he sold the property, which had greatly appreciated in value, and then removed to Tabor, where he engaged in the general merchandise business, building up a large and prosperous enterprise and gaining the good will of the people of the surrounding country. In 1901 he disposed of his store and business and engaged in banking, to which important line of enterprise he has since devoted his attention, while his interests are of wide scope and importance and he is recognized as one of the substantial capitalists of this section of the state. He is president of the Utica State Bank, the Tabor State Bank, and vice-president of the Lesterville State Bank, all of which have high standing among the monetary institutions of the state, being ably conducted and amply fortified in a capitalistic way.
In his political adherence Mr. Wagner is found staunchly arrayed in support of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and while in no sense a politician he has taken at all times a loyal interest in the success of the party cause and has been an influential factor in furthering the same in a local way. In the autumn of 1902 he was elected to his present office as county treasurer, and it needs not be said that the fiscal affairs of the county have been placed in most competent hands, his administration being typified by strict business principles and a careful conservation of the interests of the County. Mr. Wagner is public-spirited and progressive and takes a deep concern in all that tends to promote the well-being of the state in which he has gained fortune. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church, in whose faith he was reared, and he holds membership in the Bohemian Catholic Central Union, being president of the lodge of the latter in Tabor.
On the 20th of October, 1877, Mr. Wagner was united in marriage to Miss Rosa Bumba, who, like himself, is a native of Bohemia, and of their seven children only three are living, namely: Joseph J., who is cashier of the Lesterville State Bank; James A., who is deputy county treasurer; and Thomas J., who is cashier of the Tabor State Bank, all being young men of excellent business ability and sterling character.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.